ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD).MethodsRetrospective cross-sectional studies were conducted to examine the relationship between NAFLD and the severity of CAD. CAD was diagnosed by coronary angiography and NAFLD by type-B ultrasound.ResultsThe logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension, NAFLD, diabetes, smoking, and high level of γ-glutamyltransferase were risk factors of multiplevessel lesions and occlusion of CAD( P＜0.05 or P＜0.01 ) , and high levels of total cholesterol and alanine aminotransferase were risk factors of multiple-vessel lesions ( P＜0. 05 or P＜0.01 ) , family history was a risk factor of occlusion of CAD, whereas, high level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was an important protective factor of multiple-vessel lesions and occlusion of CAD ( P＜0. 01 ). NAFLD was a dependent risk factor of multiple-vessel lesions and occlusion of CAD( P＜0.05 or P＜0. 01 ). ConclusionsNAFLD could be regarded as a main risk factor of the severity of CAD. Clinicians should pay more attention to the prevention and treatment of NAFLD in order to improve the outcome of CAD.

AIM:To establish the quality control for Finger-citron Formula Granule. METHODS: The TLC,HPLC and fingerprint chromatogram were used to make quality standard. RESULTS: The TLC spots were clear and 5,7-dimethoxy-coumarin showed a good linearity at a range of 0.46-4.14 ?g.The average recovery was(99.01%)(n=6) with RSD 1.58%. CONCLUSION: The method could be used as the quality control of Finger-citron Formula Granule.

BACKGROUND: Biomechanical changes of the trunk might be an important factor contributing to the pathogenesis and poor recovery of lumbar disc herniation.OBJECTIVE: To study the biomechanical changes of the trunk of patients with lumbar disc herniation by isokinetic test of the protruded lumbar disc.DESIGN: Non-randomized controlled retrospective study of concurrent patients.SETTING: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: Thirty patients with lumbar disc herniation, admitted in the clinic of Department of Rehabilitation, Changhai Hospital affiliated to Second Military Medical University between February 2001 and January 2002, were enrolled in this study, with another 30 concurrent patients without lumbar disc herniation serving as the control group. Informed consent was obtained from all patients involved.METHODS: A Biodex Multi-joint Testing System was employed for measuring the peak torque(PT), peak torque to body weight(PT/BW), time to peak torque(TPT), torque at 0. 2 s(T@ 0. 2), total work(TW), average power(AP) and flexion to extension(F/E) ratio of the trunk muscles of the patients. The results were analyzed by t test using SPSS 9.0 software.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Main outcome: isokinetic evaluation of the lumbar and dorsal flexors and extensors; secondary outcome: F/E ratio.RESULTS: The strength of the trunk flexors and extensors decreased significantly in patients with lumbar disc herniation at each testing speed of retraction, and the bursting strength and indices for work efficiency of the muscles also exhibited obvious changes. The flexors showed greater reduction in muscle strength than the extensors. The F/E ratios during isokinetic concentric contraction at 60°/s and 180°/s were 57.99 ±5.68 and 65.74 ± 8.12, respectively, in patients with lumbar disc herniation, in comparison with the ratios of 95.25 ±5. 18 and 83.03 ±7.61 in the control patients, showing significant difference between the two patient groups( P ＜ 0.01 ).CONCLUSION: Biomechanical changes of the trunk muscles of patients with lumbar disc herniation are definite, and proper rehabilitative treatment of these patients should consists of specific training protocols to restore the mechanical balance of the trunk and break the vicious cycle on the basis ofaccurate evaluation of such changes.

Aim To investigate the effect of preventive administration of icariin on learning and memory abili-ties and brain mitochondrial oxidative stress in senes-cence-accelerated mouse prone8 ( SAMP8 ) . Methods
The 6-month-old SAMP8 mice were randomly divid-ed into the SAMP8 model group, ICA groups (75, 150 mg · kg-1 ) , the positive Diethylstilbestrol ( DES ) group and estrogen receptor inhibitor ICI182780 com-bined with ICA (150 mg·kg-1 ) group, with 8 mice in each group. 8 same month old SAMR1 mice were selected as the normal control group. After oral admin-istration for 8 weeks, Morris water maze test and step-down passive test were used to investigate the effects of preventive administration of ICA on learning and mem-ory abilities in SAMP8 mice. Cerebral cortex mitochon-dria were isolated to determine the effect of preventive administration of ICA on the oxidative stress by detec-ting reactive oxygen species ( ROS) level, lipid perox-ides ( MDA ) content, glutathione GSH content and catalase ( CAT ) activity. Results Preventive treat-ment of ICA could significantly improve the abilities of place navigation and space exploration of SAMP8 mice, enhance their reflex ability in step-down passive test. ICA could also reduce the level of ROS and MDA content, increase GSH content in brain mitochondria of SAMP8 mice. CAT activity was not obviously changed. Compared with ICA high dose group, the learning and memory abilities of mice in ICA and estrogen receptor inhibitor ICI182780 co-administrated group were signif-icantly decreased. However,brain mitochondria oxida-tive stress was not changed obviously. Conclusion Preventive administration of icariin can significantly improve learning and memory abilities and brain mito-chondrial oxidative stress in SAMP8 mice. The mecha-nism of ICA improving learning and memory abilities may be related to its estrogen-like effect;while the ac-tion on brain mitochondrial oxidative stress may be in-dependent of estrogen receptor.

OBJECTIVE:To establish UPLC fingerprint of Gehua formula granules. METHODS:UPLC method were adopted. The determination was performed on Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18 column with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-water at the flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. The detection wavelength was set at 264 nm,column temperature was 25 ℃,and the sample size was 1 μL. Using tectorigenin as reference substance,UPLC chromatograms of 10 batches of Gehua formula granules were determined. The common peak identification and similarity evaluation were conducted by TCM Chromatogram Fingerprint Similarity Evaluation Sys-tem(2004 A edition). RESULTS:14 common peaks were identified in UPLC chromatograms of 10 batches of Gehua formula gran-ules and similarities were all higher than 0.90. UPLC chromatograms of 10 batches of samples were in good agreement with control fingerprint. CONCLUSIONS:Established UPLC fingerprint can provide reference for identification and quality evaluation of Gehua formula granules.

Objective: To develop an HPLC method for determining feruloyltyramine in Pothi chinensis herba. Methods: The HPLC determination was performed on a Thermo ODS-2 Hypersil column(250 mm × 4. 6 mm, 5 μm) with isocratic elution of metha-nol-0. 4% phosphoric (35:65) as the mobile phase. The flow rate was 1. 0 ml·min-1 . The column temperature was at 25℃, and the detection wavelength was set at 318 nm. Results: Feruloyltyramine showed good linearity,and the recovery was 99. 40% with RSD of 1. 44% (n =9). Conclusion: The method is quick, simple and reproducible, which can be used to control the quality of Pothi chinensis herba.

Objective To investigate the prevention and cure effects of irbesartan on diabetic nephropathy.Methods The tissues of kidneys were harvested for histomorphometry and transmission electron microscope observation.The nuclear factor-?B(NF-?B) activity was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assays(EMSA) in renal tissue and the level of TNF-? was measured by radio-immunity in serum.Results The glomerular basement membrane thickening,the numbers of total glomerular cells and monocyt cells in a glomerulus in experimental group were less than those of the control group.The NF-?B activity and TNF-? level were positively correlated with glomerular basement membrane thickening.Conclusion The irbesartan can prevent and cure diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting NF-?B and depressing inflammatory response.

Aim To investigate the effects of tamoxifen on the proliferation and DNA synthesis of cultured human pituitary adenoma cells and make a further investigation of the mechanism of the inhibitory effect of tamoxifen on the proliferation of pituitary adenoma cells. Methods The techniques of MTT colorimetry, 3H-TdR, flow cytometry, PKC activity detection and cAMP/ cGMP levels detection were used to detect or observe the effects of tamoxifen on proliferation, DNA synthesis, cell cycle, PKC activity and cAMP/ cGMP levels of cultured human pituitary adenoma cells, respectively.Results ①Tamoxifen (0.1,1 and 10 ?mol?L -1) inhibited the proliferation and DNA synthesis of cultured human pituitary adenoma cells in a dose-dependent manner.② tamoxifen (1,10 and 20 ?mol?L -1) increased the ratio of G_1 phase of pituitary adenoma cells, and decreased the ratio of S and G_2 phase markedly;②compared with control, PMA, a PKC activator, increased the activity of membrane and total PKC in human pituitary adenoma cells. However, after a 15-min treatment with tamoxifen (10 ?mol?L -1),a significant reduction of the activity of cytoplasm, membrane and total PKC in human pituitary adenoma cells was observed;③tamoxifen (1 and 10 ?mol?L -1) increased the amount of cAMP in the cytoplasm of human pituitary adenoma cells, but had no effect on that of cGMP. Conclusion These data provide an important clue to explore the molecular mechanisms of the inhibitory effect of tamoxifen on the proliferation of pituitary adenoma cells, and suggest that the modulating effect of tamoxifen on the proliferation of pituitary adenoma cells results from interactions of several cellular signaling pathways.

Aim To develop an in vitro high throughput drug screening system based on reporter gene assay for identification of novel compounds with PXR, FXR and LXRα agonist activity. Methods The expressions of exogenous PXR, FXR and LXRαgene in HEK293, HepG2 and LS174T cells were examined by Real-Time quantity PCR. pSG5-hPXR and pGL3-XREM-CYP3A4, pEGFP-N3-hFXR and EcRE-TK-Luc, pCMX-FLAG-hLXRα and pGL3-XREM-CYP3A4 were cotransfected into cells and the optimal ratio of three plasmids was determined. The dose-response relationship between the positive drug and the fold induction was determined. The specificity of the model was ex-amined, and the repeatability was also determined by Z′ value. Results ① The PXR, FXR and LXRα mRNA expression in HEK293 cell is low among three different cells. ②reporter gene vector and expression plasmid ratio of 1∶ 1, 2∶ 1 and 2∶ 1 were proved to be suitable for highest relative luciferase activity for PXR, FXR or LXRα agonist screening model. ③ The relative luciferase activity was induced by Rif, CDCA or T0901317 in a dose-dependent manner. ④Only Rif, CDCA or T0901317 could significantly increase the relative luciferase activity in PXR,FXR or LXRα agonist screening model, no effect of other nuclear re-ceptors agonist was observed, and the values of Z′-factor for PXR, FXR and LXRαagonist screening model were 0. 58, 0. 66 and 0. 63, respectively. Conclusion An in vitro PXR, FXR and LXRα agonist high-throughput screening models are devel-oped with acceptable specificity and repeatability, and the mod-els can be used to screen PXR, FXR and LXRα agonist.